“Firm and well-structured, delivering a tight, focused core of mineral, dried berry, spicy mocha, cedar and oak. But what's most impressive is the balance of texture, flavor and weight.”

77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and 5% Petite Verdot that aged 12 months in 60% French oak and in 40% American oak. Decanter.com 3/5 stars 15/20 points Exotic red fruit, tar and blackberry. Complex Cabernet aromas lead into a seamless palate that's smooth, rich and balanced. Soft, ripe and cool entry. Drink 2012-2020.

“Expensive, yes, but it shows the drama and interest that a Joseph Phelps Cabernet predictably delivers. It’s rich and ripe in blackberry, cherry, currant and oak flavors, with wonderful tannins and a dry finish. Best now.” – Reviewed by Steve Heimoff for “Wine Enthusiast” June 1, 2012

The Wine Advocate rated 90 points “The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Reserve explodes from the glass with black fruit, grilled herbs, licorice, smoke and tar. The Grand Reserve reveals tons of energy and exceptional overall balance. In 2009 the blend is 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, all from the Alexander Mountain Estate Vineyard. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016. I must say I was deeply impressed with the wines I tasted from Kendall-Jackson. Qualitatively the wines are head and shoulders above the vast majority of what is available in the same price points, but what amazes me most is Kendall-Jackson’s ability to achieve such a high average level of quality with production levels that are truly eye-popping.” – Reviewed by Antonio Galloni for “The Wine Advocate” February 2012

The Wine Advocate rated 91+ points “The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) emerges from the glass with dark fruit, crushed flowers, licorice and tobacco. There is plenty of character and personality in the glass, although some rough edges remain. The fruit needs a lot of air to emerge from beneath a wall of tannins. Still, this is an excellent wine, and will deliver plenty of enjoyment, especially if it is opened well in advance. Flowers and sweet red berries add lift and brightness on a crystalline finish laced with mint, tobacco and sweet herbs. The 2008 was aged in French oak barrels, 47% new. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2023.”– Reviewed by Antonio Galloni for “The Wine Advocate” December 2011

The Wine Advocate rated 89 points “The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is a gorgeous, harmonious wine laced with dark cherries, plums, flowers, menthol and tar. It shows gorgeous mid-palate depth that carries through to the soft, caressing finish. The 2008 also happens to be a good value in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2008 is 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, with small amounts of Petit Verdot, Syrah and Malbec. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018.” - Reviewed by Antonio Galloni for “The Wine Advocate” December 2011

Wine Enthusiast rated 90 points Editor’s Choice “A nice Cabernet, on par with the winery’s equally fine 2008. Shows plenty of class, with rich blackberry, currant and cedar flavors. Earns points for sheer elegance. Ready to drink now.” - SH for Wine Enthusiast July 1, 2012

We have sold out of the 2009 Martini Alexander Valley Cabernet, but can offer the 2010 at the same price. This wine should be as outstanding as each of the past vintages! Rating istory: 2009 CG89*, 2008 RP90, 2007 RP88, 2006 RP89+, 2005 RP89, 2004 CG88*, 2003 WE90 - TK

The Wine Advocate rated 89 points “A dense ruby/purple color is followed by abundant aromas of black currants, cherries and loamy soil, but virtually no wood. The wine reveals lots of fruit along with a medium-bodied texture, silky tannins and adequate acidity. Drink this inexpensive beauty over the next 3-4 years, although I suspect it may last even longer. There are 340,000 cases of this cuvee, which is one of the great values in Cabernet Sauvignon in the marketplace. It is put through 100% malolactic and is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petite Sirah, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot and 2% miscellaneous varietals. The fruit comes from Sonoma County (84%) and Lake, San Joaquin, Napa and San Luis Obispo counties, and the wine is aged in large barrels with oak staves.” – Robert Parker for “The Wine Advocate” November 2012

The Wine Advocate rated 94+ points “The best wine to date that I have tasted under this label is the 2007 M by Michael Mondavi. With a production of 1,000 cases of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 20-22 months in French oak before bottling, it has the most opaque purple color of the group. The style seems like a Napa version of a Graves wine interwoven with one from St.Estephe. With plenty of distinct loamy soil, earth, and charcoal notes along with pure black currant and plum-like fruit, this wine is dense, full-bodied, still somewhat restrained, but displaying sweet, velvety tannins and impressive texture and length.”

Dinner Wines

Wine Enthusiast rated 83 points “This Cab is pretty thin in flavor, with some unripeness that gives it a green mintiness. However, it has a good core of blackberry flavor. Call it a rustic sipper and drink it now with simple fare.” - SH for Wine Enthusiast December 1, 2012

“Our 2011 Gigglepot is a gorgeous wine which is distinctly Cabernet, from the intensity of dark fruits to the direct tannins and fresh acidity. Completely balanced in every way, it has layers and layers of sweet fruit rolling over dark chocolate and a rich creamy palate. It ends with anise spice and lingering coffee flavors. Stunning!” - Candice Previous reviews: 2010 WA92+, 2009 WA93, 2007 WA94, 2006 WA95

Wine Spectator rated 89 points A soft, supple and ripe red, with a welcoming texture that underlines the generous blackberry and black currant flavors, which are shaded with coffee on the finish. Drink now through 2016. 7,100 cases made. – Reviewed by HS for “Wine Spectator” February 28, 2013. Also rated: WA87

The Wine Advocate rated 90 points: "The 2011 Montes Classic Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with 15% Merlot and offers a simple black currant, vanilla and violet bouquet that is joyful and well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent tannin, crisp raspberry and dark cherry fruit, zesty acidity and lovely focus on the finish. At this price, it would be hard to find a better Cabernet. Drink now-2016." reviewed by Neal Martin Dec. 2012

winemaker's notes: To the eye the wine displays a deep ruby red. The aromas include bold cassis with ripe layers of black plum and dark cherries, complemented with complex notes of clove, molasses, bay, and vanilla.

The Wine Advocate rated 92 points “The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon comes across as quite soft and lush for a Mt. Veeder wine. Dark red fruit, flowers, mint and crushed rocks are some of the notes that flow through to the intense, saline finish. I especially like the energy and drive here. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2024.” – Reviewed by Antonio Galloni for “The Wine Advocate” December 2011

Wine Enthusiast rated 85 points “This is a Cab made unabashedly to appeal to a broad range of palates. It’s medium in weight and texture with layers of vanilla and cherry that are persistent enough to stand up to all kinds of food. A perfect burger wine, especially for a crowd.” – Reviewed by Virginie Boone for “Wine Enthusiast” May 1, 2013

The Wine Advocate rated 94+ points “The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is all minerals, graphite and pure Howell Mountain. Layers of dark red fruit come to life in this articulate, pedigreed Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2009 needs another few years in the bottle, but it is already quite striking, especially with some time in the glass. Saline notes frame the long finish. The 2009 is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 5% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 5% St. Macaire and 2% Cabernet Franc. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.” – Antonio Galloni for “The Wine Advocate” December 2011

The Wine Advocate rated 95 points: "The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder is impeccable from start to finish. It shows marvelous detail and completeness in its perfumed red berries, mint, flowers and licorice. Tar, ash and a host of other darker nuances add considerable complexity. This is a marvelous showing. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029."

The Wine Advocate rated 90 points “Another winner is the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon. Composed of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon blended with other Bordeaux varietals, it offers up notes of black currants, vanilla, tobacco leaf, cedar and spice box. Ripe, rich and medium-bodied, with loads of fruit and a heady finish, it can be enjoyed over the next 3-4 years."

Pedroncelli’s 2009 Three Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon won a gold medal at The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, apparently placing tied for 4th out of 541 entries in the $15 - $19.99 category. Here are the winery notes: “Rich aromas of ripe raspberry and cherry highlight this full flavored Cabernet Sauvignon which is highlighted by bright acidity, just the right amount to showcase the fruit. Plum, toasted oak and warm clove spice combine to round out the flavors.”

“Delightfully pure, rich and polished, with a graceful mix of dark berry, black cherry, subtle baking spices and light cedary oak. Ends with fine-grained tannins well-suited for the wine's weight and style. Drink now through 2023. 1,800 cases made.” – Reviewed by JL for “Wine Spectator” November 15, 2012

The Wine Advocate rated 97+ points “The 2008 Monte Bello is striking. It is a decidedly muscular Monte Bello endowed with layers of dark fruit. Tobacco, mint, asphalt and crushed rocks develop in the glass, adding tons of complexity and finesse. A long, saline finish rounds things out beautifully. In 2008 the cold growing season stretched into October and the wine definitely has the feel of a cool vintage. The spring frost and the second year of drought conditions lowered yields significantly. Yields were just 1.25 tons per acre on average, but some of the older vineyards came in at less than 1 ton per acre. The balance of fruit, tannin and structure is simply extraordinary, but the wine needs time, most likely lots of it. In 2008 the blend is 72% Cabernet Sauvignon and 28% Merlot. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2038.” – Reviewed by Antonio Galloni for “The Wine Advocate” August 2011

The Wine Advocate rated 98 points “The 2009 Monte Bello, 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot is simply magnificent. Layers of dark red fruit, flowers, spices and graphite are all woven together in this utterly impeccable wine. The 2009 is an especially huge, intense Monte Bello, yet a sexy, silky core of fruit lies within its imposing frame. Everything comes together in this glorious, radiant wine. Last year the 2009 had some pretty stiff competition from the 2010, but today it is simply firing on all cylinders. Eric Baugher describes 2009 as a year with cold weather early on, followed by heat in early June and July. The fruit was brought in on October 12, just before an intense downpour swept through the region. There is a purity and silkiness supported by structure in the 2009 that is impossible not to admire. Simply put, this is another utterly magnificent, towering masterpiece from Ridge. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2049.” – Reviewed by Antonio Galloni for “The Wine Advocate” August 2012

The Wine Advocate rated 92 points

“The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Affinity bursts from the glass with an exciting array of dark red berries, flowers, licorice and sweet spices. Floral notes reappear on the finish, adding brightness and lift. This gorgeous, mid-weight Cabernet Sauvignon should continue to drink beautifully for at least a handful of years. In 2009 the blend is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, 2% Malbec and 1% Cabernet Franc.”

The Wine Advocate rated 94 points “Mondavi’s 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is sumptuous and beautiful. Plums, mocha, cloves and pencil shavings are all woven together in this gorgeous, large-scaled Cabernet Sauvignon. All the elements are in the right place. Silky, nuanced tannins frame the voluptuous, caressing finish. A wine of centeredness and gorgeous precision, the 2009 is a true standout. The tannins need a few years to soften, but once that starts to happen, the 2009 should enjoy a long life. The blend is 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029.” – Reviewed by Antonio Galloni for “The Wine Advocate” December 2012

The Wine Advocate rated 88 points “The 2009 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon also spent 8 months in French and American oak. Slightly reticent aromatically, with coaxing it reveals notes of cedar, tobacco, violets, spice box, and assorted black fruits. More structured than the Reserve Merlot, it might evolve for 1-2 years although there is no need to defer gratification.” - reviewed by Jay Miller for “The Wine Advocate” February 2012

The Wine Advocate rated 90 points
Wine Enthusiast rated 89 points

“This well-built red delivers a solid core of crushed plum and blackberry fruit, with cassis, violet and dark toast notes that linger on the finish.”

Wine Spectator rated 92 points “A classy Bordeaux-like effort, rich and harmonious, with ripe plum, blackberry, black cherry and spice notes, as touches of cedar and herb firm midpalate, yet gain depth and persistence on the finish. Drink now through 2021. 1,448 cases made.” – Reviewed by JL for Wine Spectator September 30, 2012

Wine Spectator rated 88 points “Smooth, rich and fleshy, offering subtle plum, dried herb, anise and berry pie notes that firm on the finish. Drink now through 2016. 65,000 cases made.”

Winery notes: Our 2008 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, selected from several different vineyards throughout the appellation, is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a dark, rich full-bodied wine with great tannic structure and mouth-feel. It has a garnet color and a nose of ripe boysenberries, cherry liqueur, dark chocolate, sandalwood and a hint of roasting meat. On the palate, it is mouth-coating and incredibly rich in umami. It has a very long, savory finish with the slight grip of fine-grained tannins. Given proper cellaring, this wine should give drinking pleasure through 2030.

JamesSuckling.com rated 92 points "This is an exuberant red with lots of currants and menthol aromas and flavors. Full and fruity with a firm, racy texture and a powerful finish. Give it two to three years of bottle age to come together more." – Reviewed by James Suckling for “JamesSuckling.com”

To give this wine more depth and character Souverain has added Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Sirah to its 2009 North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a classic North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon, combining the fruit forward black cherry and boysenberry flavors of Alexander Valley, blackberries of Napa with the rich tannins and Dutch chocolate notes from the volcanic Red Hills of Lake County. Oak aging has enhanced the primary fruit profile with engaging aromas reminiscent of vanilla, baking spices and dark roast coffee. This wine is designed with a sense of depth, framed by mouth-coating tannins and balanced soft acidity for which Souverain has long been known. Pair with spicy pulled pork or mint crusted roasted leg of lamb for a real flavor treat!

Wine Spectator rated 93 points “Dense and juicy, this is packed with disarmingly delicious currant, plum, roasted meat and mineral flavors, and when the finish kicks in this shows elegance and finesse. Offers power and personality, with deft balance. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Best from 2014 through 2020. 1,150 cases made.” – Reviewed by HS for “Wine Spectator” December 15, 2011

Connoisseur’s Guide rated 90* points
The Wine Advocated rated 92 points

“Another big, earthy, tannic, Medoc-styled wine is the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Bear Point. There are only 231 cases of this cuvee, which offers abundant amounts of black currant, cedar, spice box, and earth notes in a full-bodied, tannic style. Give it 5-8 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 20 years.”

I tasted this at the winery on April 1st last year. It is rare to find older vintages directly from wineries at affordable prices, and this one is a true winner! TK Connoisseur’s Guide to California Wine rated 87 points (Reviewed April 2004) “Deep, dense and solidly filled in the nose with lots of curranty fruit tied to rich oak and elements of dark chocolate, this rugged youngster is a little less inviting on the palate just now, and its ample flavors of concentrated fruit are beset by slightly outsized tannins. It finishes on the dry and austere side and needs some patience to make its way to beauty.”

Wine Advocate rated 90 pts - “… the opaque purple-colored 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (6,000 cases made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon) offers sweet blueberry and black currant fruit intermixed with cedar wood, damp earth and forest floor notes. Surprisingly thick, unctuous and rich with amazing intensity as well as silky tannins, it should be drunk over the next 7-10 years. One of my favorite value wineries is Summers Estate, whose winemaker, Ignacio Blancas, does a terrific job of getting maximum varietal character from these realistically priced wines.”

Victor Hugo Winery of Paso Robles is owned and run by long time friend Vic Roberts. With only a few hundred of each wine produced, these wines almost never get reviewed by the national wine publications (which is probably a good thing because supply would disappear and in return the prices would jump). So, for now you’ll have to take the word of me and the rest of the staff – THESE WINES ARE AWESOME!!! TK

Winery notes: “The grapes were hand harvested, then crushed into a stainless fermentor. 24 hours later, the must was inoculated with fx-10 yeast then pumped over daily for 12 days prior to pressing. After completion of malo-lactic fermentation, this cabernet sauvignon was aged for 19 months in french and Hungarian oak prior to bottling. Intense aromas of black cherry and bittersweet chocolate and ripe plum are complimented by a background of subtle oak. Rich flavors with layers of large, soft tannins interlocking with complex oak tannins for a long, elegant finish.”